Iowa Top 250 Expo: Stock Risers
We were blown-away with the amount of talent that took the floor last Saturday in Ames. And though many stood out, and several guys justified their already high-ranking, the eight guys below could be the players who benefited most from the event. In almost all cases, these players listed will see their ranking rise — and in some cases skyrocket — in the our next installment this November.
2017 Trevon Montgomery, 6’2 G (Pleasant Valley)
This smooth operator started his steady rise last March while playing at the state tournament in Des Moines. He was not a go-to option for Pleasant Valley, but his shooting ability, size and athletic ability were all duly noted. We bumped him up a bit in our latest installment after some nice showings this summer. He’ll rocket up from No.93 after his eye-opening performance at last weekend’s Expo.
2017 Chad Moran, 6’3 G (Lewis Central)
I was told by a spectator to keep and eye out for Moran, he had evidently been dunking with regularity in some live game action before he came to my court. It didn’t take long for him to flash those nice leaping skills, and the kid can get up. He pairs that great leaping ability with serious guard skills. Currently No. 152, he may make a bigger rise than anyone in November’s rankings.
2018 Keith Johnson, 6’5 SF (Dubuque Hempstead)
Perhaps the most dominant player at the Expo, Johnson has already been making a meteoric rise in the 2018 rankings. We discovered him during the summer of 2015 at the Urbandale Team Camp, we thought he was good enough for a ranking then. He shot up after a dominant performance last spring with Tri-State Steam – now he’s a No.21. It’s tough to rise when you’re already so high, but Johnson will.
2017 Landon Torneton, 6’6 G/F (Council Bluffs Lincoln)
Torneton has done a nice job of getting himself some exposure since the spring. After transferring into CB Lincoln last season he had to sit out some games. And when he was eligible to play his minutes were minimal with a team that was so talented and already had an established group of stars. Torneton played grassroots ball with SW Iowa Select and was certainly a standout this spring. His great length and shooting ability paired with some nice defensive instincts were on full display last weekend in Ames. He’ll be moving up a bit from his No. 48 spot.
2020 Zack Lasek, 6’7 C (Highland, Riverside)
Since we have yet to release a set of 2020 rankings — or even a Watch List for that matter — Lasek can’t technically move up on any charts. But we consider him a stock-riser still. He was not only the most well-balanced and polished big-man at the underclassmen session, but he was one of the best of the entire Expo – that includes juniors and seniors. When our 2020 Watch List is released in November, he’ll be on it. And when the first 2020 rankings are released next spring, he’ll be high on the list.
2019 Tyreke Locure, 5’10 PG (Des Moines North)
It’s not easy to rise when you’re already No.2 in your class. And were not saying that Locure — with his unbelievable savvy and elite athleticism — is going to take over the top spot in 2019 currently occupied by Iowa City West’s 6’8 SF Patrick McCaffery. All we’re saying is that with his dazzling display of basketball mastery in Ames on Saturday, he’s closing the gap.
2019 Dylan Jones, 6’7 SF (Waukee)
It’s great to see the progression of players — particularly underclassmen — as they go from season to season. And Jones has been a prime example of that. His potential was evident when we first saw him play last spring with Iowa Elite. He was starting to really put it together this summer with Waukee at the Urbandale Team Camp. And it all erupted onto the courts at the All Iowa Attack Fieldhouse last weekend. Great size, impressive shooting ability, and some above the rim play make him better than 2019’s 39th best player – he’ll move way up.
2021 Trey Shearer, 5’8 G (Montezuma)
He’s still a ways from any rankings we may be putting him in. But this eighth grader was utterly impressive last weekend in the morning session. He was smaller than the other guys, but still dominant. And just when you thought maybe his success was a fluke, he torched his guy again, and again. The Iowa Intensity product has some sweet handles and elite shot-making ability. We’ll remember him one year from now.